The Hebrew
word Moshiach or Messiah is translated into ancient Greek as Khriein.

In English
transliteration that becomes Christos or Christ. In Latin the same word is
translated into in+unguere or, in English transliteration, anoint. In all three
languages these words mean smeared.

Our
Christian brethren are sometimes shocked to hear that translation. Yet, we read
in the Torah (1 Samuel X) “And Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his
head and kissed him and said: the Lord has anointed you over his inheritance as
chief (or king).”

Samuel was
a major prophet in Israel and it was Saul whose head received the oil as he was
inaugurated the first king of Israel. David, king of Judah, was also
“anointed”, as were all the kings of Judah and Israel.

The reason
for smearing oil on the head of the king at his inauguration can readily be
understood if we consider that ancient people did not use oil to drive cars. Oil
seemed a mysterious substance to people who knew no chemistry.

Anyone who
has walked on any beach in Israel knows that there is so much oil in the ground
that it attaches to the feet or sandals of anyone walking there. Oil is found
all over the area and in the heat of the summer it sometimes cause the
vegetation to burn. This may be called “spontaneous combustion”, but to the
ancients it was mysterious and supernatural. Hence the story of the burning
bush.

In time,
the word Moshiach came to mean more than just “smeared”. It took on a
mythical quality and became identified with a yet to be born king who would
rescue Israel from the oppression of Roman rule. Messianic hopes are of course
most prevalent among those who feel they cannot help themselves and therefore
seek supernatural intervention.

Today,
years after the Holocaust, the concept of a Moshiach still exists among us. The
Torah true or orthodox Jews hold that the Moshiach will arrive as a man and will
inaugurate an era of peace and kindness among us as has never been seen before.
There are some Jews who believe that the late Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
(1902-1994) is the Moshiach and will return soon. In New York City and in other
cities there are some outdoor signs showing the picture of Rabbi Schneerson and
proclaiming that the Moshiach is about to arrive.

In the
past, several Jews have been regarded as the Moshiach, only to be defeated. Bar
Kochba, who led the last Jewish revolt against the Romans in 132 C.E., was
regarded as the Moshiach by some. In 1665-1666 Sabbatai Zvi claimed to be
Moshiach. He ended in a Turkish prison and converted to Islam.

There are
those who see the coming of the Moshiach in the rise of modern Israel. This
euphoria was particularly pronounced after Israel won the 1967 war and liberated
all of the Holy Land. Such beliefs may be satisfying but are hardly realistic.

Reality
teaches us that each of us must strive to attain a Messianic age by contributing
our share to such an eventual state of affairs during our lifetime. The problem
for so many people is, then, how to do that.

In fact,
for us Jews that is easy. We, the American Jewish community, have few serious
problems. That is not to deny the poor among us. However, in general we are well
off. We have a considerable communal income. We are better educated than any
other ethnic group in America. We are well organized and we have a great friend
in the White House.

Only
recently, President Bush instructed our representative to the U.N. Security
Council to veto a resolution seeking to once more condemn Israel. This time it
was for defending itself against Arab murder coming from Gaza. The President,
within the past two weeks, signed an extension of the Israel-U.S.A. trade
agreement allowing Israeli products into the country without paying a tariff.
This month, the U.S. agreed to sell Israel numerous “smart bombs” in
response to Iranian nuclear threats.

This
positive attitude towards our brethren in Israel has now continued for almost
four years and would lead any other ethnic group to the conclusion that our vote
should go where the survival of Israel is supported.

Unfortunately,
the American Jewish community is largely repeating the stance taken by the U.S.
Jews during the days of Franklin Roosevelt. That bigot made every excuse not to
let German Jews migrate to this country. Yet, almost all American Jews in those
days voted for this hater, without regard to the fate of the German Jews who
died in the Nazi camps even before 1939 because no one wanted us.

Now we see
the same thing again. Evidently, Kerry and his friends are no supporters of
Israel. On the contrary. Democrats generally support Arafat. Therefore, a Kerry
presidency would lead to several real dangers for Israel and us.

Kerry
would not veto any anti-Jewish resolution in the Security Council. That would
allow the U.N. to send an international force against Israel and hand the 5.5
million Jews there over to the mercy of the Arabs.

Kerry
would not give Israel any military aid, nor financial support. Kerry objects to
Israel’s defensive wall and praises Arafat as a statesman. In short, Kerry is
anti-Israel.

Now
consider this. Surely, many American Jews would vehemently object to any policy
weakening our commitment to the survival of Israel. Such an objection will then
lead to the accusation that we are more interest in Israel than the U.S. In
short, the fate of Israel will become our own, as shown in all of Jewish
history.

So think
about it. Do you want to elect an enemy of the Jewish people to the presidency
of the U.S., or do you want to do just once small thing to keep Israel alive and
vote for the best friend we Jews have ever had in the White House?